Portable wireless remote monitoring and control systems

ABSTRACT

A user-programmable portable wireless remote monitoring system includes a base unit, a series of sensor units and a remote control device. The base unit is connected to the internet, and receives wireless alerts from sensor arrays deployed in the sensor units. When the sensor units detect a problem, then they send an alert to the base unit, which then relays the alert to the remote control device that is preferably a smart phone, tablet, or the like, including software for operating the system. The system may also incorporate smart outlets that are remotely operable by the remote control device, various monitors, a touchscreen, and wearable tracking devices to monitor a person within the home. The system is designed to provide security, home system monitoring, personal medical monitoring, and remote control of various electrical appliances. The system may also be controlled by using oral commands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Home security and monitoring systems have become enormously popular, andin many ways necessary, across the United States and the world in recentyears. Different types of systems are used for different purposes. Forinstance, security systems are generally used to make sure that if theuser's home, office, or other structure is broken into, the system mayalert the user and/or a monitoring service, so that action can be takento stop the crime in progress. Additionally, security systems mayinclude lights and sirens to alert neighbors and to deter criminals fromspending any more time in the vicinity of the screaming alarms andflashing lights.

In recent years, another type of home monitoring system has becomeavailable, wherein the system is used to monitor people and theirhealth. These types of systems generally include a wearable device thatis worn by the person whose health is to be monitored, and the wearabledevice includes sensors that may keep track of and record the user'sheart rate, blood pressure, calories burned, along with many otherfactors. The wearable device may also be used to transmit datawirelessly to a receiving station, particularly if any of the factorsfall outside of normal parameters. For instance, if a wearable devicesenses that a person's blood pressure is dangerously high, the wearabledevice may transmit a message to the receiving station, which may thenrelay the message along to medical personnel, a caregiver, a relative ora friend.

Another type of home monitoring system is used to monitor remoteproperties that may be vacant for extended periods of time, such asvacation homes, rental apartments or condominiums, or the like. Althoughthese systems often do include a security component, they also mayinclude monitors to make sure that major components of the home areworking properly. These systems may include temperature monitors toensure that the temperature inside the home does not fall below freezingduring the winter, which may result in frozen or burst pipes within theplumbing. Additionally, other types of sensors may be employed to ensurenormal operation, including sensors for monitoring water usage,electricity usage, humidity, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors,and the like.

Various types of security and monitoring systems are also beginning toinclude “smart house” features, which allow a user to remotely controllighting, appliances, entertainment systems, environmental systems, andthe like via smart phones, tablets, or computers.

Additionally, one issue with current home monitoring and securitysystems is that interaction with the system requires either typingnumbers into a keypad, tapping on a touch screen, or using apersonalized fob. It would be desirable to provide a system that couldrespond to oral voice commands from a user, and more particularly, voicecommands that could be detected anywhere within the house, apartment, ordwelling. Alternatively, or along with voice recognition throughout thehouse, it would be advantageous to provide a remote control(particularly an tablet or smartphone) that could receive instructionsand execute them based on oral commands, similar to the Siri systemprovided by Apple Computers or the Amazon Echo.

The following is a list of patents or patent related documents thatrelate generally to monitoring systems, remote control of electricaldevices, and security systems. Each of the following references ishereby incorporated herein by reference:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,421,624—Home Security System

A home security system includes a plurality of monitoring assemblieseach comprising a data communication device, a light, a video camera, atransmitter, a sensor, a loudspeaker, a warning device, anidentification device, a projector, an adjustment device for adjustingangles of the light, the video camera, and the projector, and a powersupply; a fixed controller comprising a data communicating device and adata storage device; and a hand-held portable controller comprising awireless communication module and an equipment set module. The fixedcontroller is adapted to activate the monitoring assemblies. Thehand-held, portable controller is adapted to remotely activate themonitoring assemblies.Application No. CN 102736587 A—Monitoring and Control Alarming Systemfor Smart HomeThe invention discloses a monitoring and control alarming system for asmart home. The system comprises a control host arranged in an indoorenvironment, environmental temperature, humidity and toxic gasmonitoring equipment, a wireless switch and a portable softwareterminal. Human health monitoring equipment and a personnel positioningtag are also arranged in the system, wherein the human health monitoringequipment is used for monitoring human health conditions comprisingblood pressure, a heart rate and body temperature in real time, andproviding a data monitoring interface. A home monitoring and controlfunction is realized, and in addition, problems about the healthmonitoring and real-time positioning of family members are solved.U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,909—Portable Motion Detector and Alarm System andMethodA portable security alarm system which can be installed on a temporarybasis and removed from an object whose movement is to be detectedincluding a motion detecting and radio signal transmitting member formounting proximate the object whose movement is to be detected, a memberfor selectively coupling and decoupling the motion detecting and radiosignal transmitting member relative to the object whose movement is tobe detected, a combined radio signal receiving and alarm generatingmember for receiving a signal from the combined motion detecting andradio signal transmitting member and producing an alarm, a remotecontrol for actuating and deactuating the radio signal receiving andalarm generating member, and components for providing objectidentification information identifying the object whose movement is tobe detected and distance measurement information for measuring thedistance moved by the object.U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,078—Portable Motion Detector and Alarm System andMethodA portable security alarm system which can be installed on a temporarybasis and removed from an object whose movement is to be detectedincluding a motion detecting and radio signal transmitting member formounting proximate the object whose movement is to be detected, a memberfor selectively coupling and decoupling the motion detecting and radiosignal transmitting member relative to the object whose movement is tobe detected, a combined radio signal receiving and alarm generatingmember for receiving a signal from the combined motion detecting andradio signal transmitting member and producing an alarm, a remotecontrol for actuating and deactuating the radio signal receiving andalarm generating member, an information gathering device adapted toreceive the predetermined signal, to gather information relating to themovement, and to transmit the information, and a remote notificationdevice adapted to receive the information from the information gatheringdevice, to establish data communication with a remote host, and toprovide the information to the remote host.U.S. Pat. No. 8,217,790—Portable Motion Detector and Alarm System andMethodA portable security alarm system including a movement detecting andsignal transmitting member for mounting on or proximate to the objectwhose movement is to be detected, a signal receiving and alarmgenerating member for receiving a signal from the movement detecting andsignal transmitting member and producing a security response, a remotecontrol for actuating and deactuating the signal receiving and alarmgenerating member, an environmental monitoring member for sensing anenvironmental condition and providing a signal to the signal receivingand alarm generating member, a visual information gathering member forgathering visual information and providing a signal to the signalreceiving and alarm generating member, an audio output member forreceiving a signal from the signal receiving and alarm generating memberand generating an audio output, and components for delivering a securitynotification to remote recipients. A security network that includes thealarm system is also disclosed. An inertial sensor for alarm system orfor activating or deactivating a device is additionally disclosed.Patent No. CN 202939450—Household Electricity Quantity Monitoring SystemThe utility model relates to a household electricity quantity monitoringsystem. The household electricity quantity monitoring system comprisesan intelligent terminal, a gateway, electricity quantity meteringsockets which are used for measuring electricity quantity data, and ahousehold appliance adapter which is used for switching and controllinghousehold appliance modes. The household electricity quantity monitoringsystem is characterized in that sockets of household appliances areplugged into the electricity quantity metering sockets; the householdappliance adapter is connected to the household appliances; theelectricity quantity metering sockets and the household applianceadapter are in communications with the gate way through a wirelessnetwork One; the gateway is in communication with the intelligentterminal through a wireless network Two; and bidirectionalcommunications are established between the electricity quantity meteringsockets and the household appliance adapter with the intelligentterminal through the gateway. The household electricity quantitymonitoring system has the following characteristics that: 1) the ZIGBEEnetwork is adopted so as to summary used electricity quantity data ofthe scattered metering socket and the household appliances, and thuspower acquisition and work modes of the household appliances arecontrolled, long standby time is shortened and service life isprolonged; 2) through the intelligent terminal (with a WIFI module),overall electricity quantity monitoring and management control of thehousehold appliances are realized; and 3) the ZIGBEE is adopted foradaptation to the WIFI protocol, and complexity of the gateway issimplified and mobile adaptability of the entire control system isexpanded.U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,989—Method and System for Controlling Power to anElectrically Powered DeviceA system and method for remotely controlling power to an electricallypowered device in a simple and efficient manner is disclosed herein. Thesystem comprises an apparatus, an electrically-powered device and acontroller. The apparatus comprises a cord, an alternating currentoutlet socket, an alternating current input plug, a latching relay, aprocessor and a transceiver. The system preferably uses a WiFicommunication signal to transmit commands from the remote controller tothe apparatus.WO PCT No. WO2013155559 A1—A Programmable Electrical Control DeviceA programmable electrical control device (10) adapted to be programmedby an external programming device, the programmable electrical controldevice for controlling electrical power supply in cooperation with anelectrical switching device (12), the electrical switching device havinga body, an electrical power supply input, an electrical power supplyoutput (15) and a manual switch (16), the device (10) including a dataconnection module; memory; a timing module; a processor; and a switchingmodule, including at least one supply on period, and at least one supplyoff period, wherein at least a part of the device (10) is capable ofbeing integrated within the body.U.S. Pat. No. 8,374,729—Smart Electrical Outlets and Associated NetworksA control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electricaloutlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotelymonitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently executeblackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electricaldevices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302)that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power linesusing the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn,communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.U.S. Pat. No. 7,394,385—Comprehensive Monitoring SystemA monitoring system for physically challenged clients can have a basehub unit, one or more sensor units, one or more repeater units, and amobile unit for a client to wear in a residential setting. In aninstitutional setting, a mobile repeater can be used for monitoringoutside premises. A three-axis accelerometer can be used to detect fallsand to monitor for other life activities, such as sleeping.Publication No. 20100217096 A1—A Health Monitor and A Method for HealthMonitoringA method for health monitoring and a personal health monitor thatincludes: a band that comprises at least one biometric sensor; and adata connector adapted to fasten a first end of the band to a second endof the band, and is also adapted to be connected to a reception devicesuch as to provide data to the reception device; wherein the dataconnector is coupled to the at least one biometric sensor.U.S. Pat. No. 9,324,322—Automatic Volume Attenuation for Speech EnabledDevicesA speech recognition system that also automatically recognizes and actsin response to significant audio interruptions. Received audio iscompared with stored acoustic signatures of noises which may trigger achange in device operation, such as pausing, loudening or attenuating ofcontent playback after hearing a certain audio interruption, such as adoorbell, etc. If the received audio matches a stored acoustic model,the system alters an operational state of one or more devices, which mayor may not include itself.

Most of the residential and commercial monitoring systems availabletoday are expensive and difficult to install, requiring in-wall wiringand trained technicians to perform the installation work. Additionally,once installed, it is difficult to uninstall the systems and move themto another location. Further, many of these existing systems requireusers to pay a monthly subscription for the monitoring services, whichis more expensive than many people can afford. None of the prior artincorporates a system that can provide security features, personnelmonitoring, home systems monitoring, remote control smart housecapabilities, and a system that includes a voice recognition system thatallows a user to operate the system using voice commands.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a programmable wirelessremote monitoring and control system that is easy to install and set up,requiring no wiring, and which is portable, so that a user can easilyunplug and remove the components from one location and quickly set thesystem up in another location. Moreover, it would be desirable toprovide a system that monitors against burglary and trespass, as well asmonitoring people with high-risk medical conditions, and further, thatmonitors the electrical, plumbing and environmental systems to ensureproper operation. Finally, it would be desirable to provide such asystem described above, which would also allow a user to remotelycontrol (either from within the home or building, or from many milesaway) certain appliances, lighting, and other electrical devices, and tohave the ability to incorporate these electrical devices into themonitoring system, in any desired manner. Additionally, it would bedesirable to provide a home monitoring system that could receive oralcommands and follow oral instructions from a user. Finally, it would bedesirable to provide a system that may be easily programmed by a user toperform various functions, such as macro functions for controllingmultiple appliances with one command (or the press of a single button oricon on the remote control), or to perform functions in response toalerts generated by the system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a first embodiment of ahome monitoring system includes a base unit and a series of sensor unitsthat collect information and wirelessly transmit the collectedinformation back to the base unit. The base unit may also includesensors of its own. In the first embodiment, the base unit simply plugsinto a standard electrical outlet, and includes a plurality of remotelycontrollable smart electrical outlets that may be used to powerappliances, lights, or the like. The base unit also preferably includesmeans for two-way communication with the sensor units, as well as atransceiver for sending and receiving information over a wirelessinternet network. The base unit may also include its own sensor arrayfor monitoring and collecting information and data.

The base unit may be connected via wireless communication through theinternet with a computer and/or a hand held device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like, which serves as a remote control. The remotecontrol may receive information from the base unit, and may also act asa control for the base unit and sensor units. Preferably, the remotecontrol includes software (an “app”) that serves as the interfacebetween the user and the remote monitoring and control system.Additionally, the base unit may include voice recognition software thatallows it to receive and act on oral commands from a user, similarly tothe popular commercially available Amazon Echo.

The sensor units, in a preferred embodiment, also include a series ofstandard electrical remotely controllable smart outlets, as well asmeans for two-way communication with the base unit. Instructions fromthe remote control may be received by the base unit, and then relayed tothe sensor units. The sensor units may include multiple types ofsensors, including motion sensors, a camera (still shot and/or video),heat sensors, humidity sensors, standing water sensors, laser sensors,smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, microphones, or any othersuitable sensors.

The sensor units provide constant monitoring, and are in either constantor periodic communication with the base unit. The base unit may beprogrammed to ignore data that falls within acceptable parameters (suchas temperature in the range of 40° to 90° Fahrenheit, for instance), butto send an alert to the user if the data falls outside the acceptableparameters (temperature dips below 40° F., for instance).

In one embodiment, if the motion sensor senses motion, then the sensorunit may be programmed to 1) activate the camera to take a photo, aseries of photos, or a short video, and 2) transmit the visual data tothe base unit, which then relays the visual data to the user via theremote control in the form of an alert. It is further contemplated thata microphone may be included in the sensor unit, so that the short videotransmission may also include sound, as well.

An additional feature of the system is that the remote control may alsobe used to control the smart electrical outlets of the base unit and thesensor units. For instance, if a lamp is plugged into a smart outlet onthe base unit (or on a sensor unit), the user may be able to cut thelamp on or off remotely using the remote control with the software appon a smart phone, tablet, or other remote control device. It is alsocontemplated that the sensor unit may be programmed to activate one ormore smart outlets in response to data picked up by the sensors. Forexample, if a motion sensor in a sensor unit detects motion, then thesensor unit may be programmed to activate one or more of the smartoutlets (either plugged into that specific sensor unit, another sensorunit, or the base unit) to switch on one or more lamps or lightsimmediately upon sensing the motion.

Other wirelessly operated components may be incorporated into thesystem, such as door and window sensors to determine when a door orwindow has been opened, and to monitor the status of whether doors andwindows are in an open or closed position. A siren or audible alarm mayalso be incorporated into the system, so that it may be activated uponany of the motion sensors detecting motion within the protected area.Each of these components is preferably battery operated, andcommunicates wirelessly with the base unit. A wireless panic button maybe incorporated into the system as well, so that if a user that is inthe protected area is in distress, they may depress the panic button toactivate the alarm and/or send an alert to a monitoring system, anotheruser, the police, or any other chosen recipient.

In one embodiment, the base unit (or touchscreen) may include amicrophone and speaker assembly, so that a person can communicatethrough the base unit or touchscreen unit with the remote control deviceusing video and audio communications.

Another embodiment of the system includes the ability to monitor certainaspects of a person's health and well-being, preferably through the useof a wearable device that communicates wirelessly with the system. Inrecent years, wearable devices have become commonplace, and may be usedto monitor a wearer's heart rate, blood pressure, number of stairsclimbed or miles walked, and other measures of a person's dailyactivities and body functions. Such a wearable device may beincorporated into the system, so that the wearable device can wirelesslycommunicate with the sensor units and base unit in order to provideinformation and data about the wearer's health and activity. Certainparameters may be programmed into either the wearable device or the baseunit, so that if any measured data falls outside normal parameters(heart rate is too high, or blood pressure is too high, for instance),then the system may be programmed to send an alert for help to anydesired person or entity, such as a family member, first responders,caregivers, security monitoring company or the like. It is contemplatedthat such a system may be employed by a family to monitor an elderlyfamily member who still lives alone, so that they may be alertedremotely if a medical emergency or situation arises. The base unit andsensor units may directly monitor the wearer's movements around thehouse, and further, may receive data transmitted wirelessly from thewearable device. When the data falls outside of normal parameters, thenthe system can generate an alert to be sent out to a desired party tocome check on the wearer, and render aid, if necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustration of one embodiment of a sensor unithaving a series of LED lights, a camera, a motion detector, aspeaker/audio alarm, and a series of smart outlets;

FIG. 2 is a front view illustration of one embodiment of a base unit,showing a camera and an antenna;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a room having a window and a door, furthershowing a door sensor attached to the door and frame, a window sensorattached to a window and frame, a sensor unit plugged into a standardelectrical outlet on a wall, and a base unit that wirelesslycommunicates with the sensors; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a base unit in wireless communication witha pair of sensor units, a touch pad for controlling the system, a remotecontrol that may also be used to control the system, a panic button, anda remote server that receives and records data sent by the base unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Overview

The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a base unit 22that plugs into a standard electrical outlet, along with a series ofsensor units 10. The base unit 22 and the sensor units 10 include meansfor two-way communications, so that the sensor units 10 may transmitdata collected by the sensors to the base unit 22, and the base unit 22may transmit data or instructions to the sensor units 10. Preferably,the transmissions are wireless, and may be any type of wirelesscommunications, including Bluetooth, radio frequency, sonar, laser, orany other suitable type of wireless communication.

As used herein, the terms “wi-fi,” “wifi” or “WIFI” mean generally alocal area wireless computer networking technology that allowselectronic devices to connect to the network, mainly using the 2.4gigahertz (12 cm) UHF and 5 gigahertz (6 cm) SHF ISM radio bands.

The Wi-Fi Alliance defines Wi-Fi as any “wireless local area network”(WLAN) product based on the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers' (IEEE) 802.11 standards. However, the term “Wi-Fi” is used ingeneral English as a synonym for “WLAN” since most modern WLANs arebased on these standards.”

Many devices can use Wi-Fi, e.g. personal computers, video-gameconsoles, smartphones, digital cameras, tablet computers and digitalaudio players. These can connect to a network resource such as theInternet via a wireless network access point. Such an access point (orhotspot) has a range of about 20 meters (66 feet) indoors and a greaterrange outdoors. Hotspot coverage can be as small as a single room withwalls that block radio waves, or as large as many square kilometersachieved by using multiple overlapping access points.

As used herein, the term “bluetooth” is generally defined to mean awireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances(using short-wavelength UHFradio waves in the ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485GH) from fixed and mobile devices, and building personal area networks(PANs). It can connect several devices, overcoming problems ofsynchronization.

As used herein, the term “touchscreen” is generally defined to mean aninput device normally layered on the top of an electronic visual displayof an information processing system. A user can give input or controlthe information processing system through simple or multi-touch gesturesby touching the screen with a special stylus/pen and-or one or morefingers. Some touchscreens use ordinary or specially coated gloves towork while others use a special stylus/pen only. The user can use thetouchscreen to react to what is displayed and to control how it isdisplayed; for example, zooming to increase the text size.

The touchscreen 32 enables the user to interact directly with thedisplay, rather than using a mouse, touchpad, or any other intermediatedevice (other than a stylus, which is optional for most moderntouchscreens).

Touchscreens are common in devices such as game consoles, personalcomputers, tablet computers, electronic voting machines, andsmartphones. They can also be attached to computers or, as terminals, tonetworks. They also play a prominent role in the design of digitalappliances such as personal digital assistants (PDAs)es and some books(E-books).

The base unit 22 preferably includes, along with means for communicatingwith the sensor units 10, means for connecting to the internet, so thatthe base unit 22 can receive commands remotely from a remote controldevice 30, such as a smart phone, tablet, computer, or any other type ofinternet-connected remote control device. Additionally, the base unit 22may include means of transmitting data and information through theinternet, either to a monitoring service, a remote control device 30, aremote server 36, or the like. The base unit 22 may also include one ormore sensors, as well as a microphone. The internet connection mayinclude a standard network connection, a wifi connection through awireless router, or a cellular connection that allows internetcommunication through standard cellular networks, similar to theinternet connection of most smart phones. In one preferred embodiment,the base unit 22 includes both a wifi internet connection and a backupcellular network data connection, similar to commonly found tablets andsmart phones.

The sensor units 10 may include any of a variety of different sensors,as a part of an overall sensor array. Such sensors may include motiondetectors 18, a camera 16, a microphone, temperature sensors, electricalusage sensors or meters, humidity sensors, electrical power sensors,standing water sensors, or any other suitable sensors or monitors. Thesensor units 10 may also include a light 14 that may be used for a nightlight, or may be used as a camera flash. Preferably, the light 14includes a series of LED lights, which may be controlled remotely. Thelights 14, in a preferred embodiment, may be remotely switched on oroff, dimmed or brightened remotely, or may be programmed to light upupon alert or motion detection. The sensor units 10 and/or the base unit22 may include an audio speaker 20, as well, to be used as an audioalarm if motion is detected. Additionally, the sensor units 10 and/orbase unit 22 may include adjustable antennas 24 and a microphone.

The sensor units 10, in one embodiment, include a standard electricalplug for plugging into a standard electrical outlet, and may include aseries of standard electrical remotely controllable smart outlets 12that may be used to power any electrical appliance, such as lamps,televisions, or the like. Preferably, the smart outlets 12 on the sensorunits 10 may be operated remotely, by receiving commands or instructionsfrom a remote control device 30 via the internet, so that if a userplugs a lamp into one of the smart outlets 12 on the sensor unit 10, forinstance, the user may switch that lamp on or off (or potentially use adimmer function) via the software app on their smart phone or tablet(remote control device 30).

Other wireless components may be incorporated into the system, as well.These components may be powered by plugging into a standard electricaloutlet, or may be battery operated (or may include a battery backup incase of power failure). Such components include laser sensors, magneticsensors, a keypad and screen (or touchscreen 32) for operating thesystem, a panic button 34, stand-alone motion sensors, smoke detectors,carbon monoxide detectors, and an audible alarm 20. In a preferredembodiment, each of these components also includes a battery monitor,and is configured to send an alert to the user via remote control 30whenever a battery is running low, and preferably before the battery isdead, so that the user has an opportunity to change the battery beforeit completely runs out of power. Each of these wireless components mayinclude a wireless transmitter that communicates with the base unit inorder to provide an alert to any programmed condition, so that the baseunit 22 can then relay the alert to the user remotely over the internetvia the remote control 30.

In one embodiment, the sensor units 10 and the base unit 22 communicatewith one another using Bluetooth technology, and the base unit 22communicates with the remote control 30 over an internet connection,using either a wifi connection or a cellular data connection (similar todata connections used by smart phones in the absence of a wificonnection), or both. It is contemplated, however, that other types ofcommunication may be used, both between the base unit 22 and the sensorunits 10 (or other wireless components), as well as communicationsbetween the base unit 22 and a remote control device 30.

Security

In use, the base unit 22 is simply plugged into an electrical outlet,and the sensor units 10 are plugged into other electrical outletsthroughout the home, apartment, or building. In one embodiment, the usermay download a software app onto her smart phone or tablet (remotecontrol 30), and establish a connection (Bluetooth, for instance)between the phone and the base unit 22. Then, the user can establish aconnection between a wireless (wifi) network and the base member 22, andenter a wifi password, if necessary. Once the wireless networkconnection is established with the base unit 22, the system becomesoperational. It is also contemplated that the system may communicatewith a cellular data network, either instead of, or as a backup to, awifi network.

When a user leaves the building, she may use the software app to arm thesystem, which activates the sensor units 10 in the “Away” mode. In Awaymode, the motion sensors 18 are activated to detect motion inside thehome. The system may be programmed by the user so that any motiondetected by the motion sensors 18 may trigger a number of responses. Forexample, if motion is detected, the motion sensor 18 may send an alertsignal to the base unit 22, which then relays that message through theinternet (or cellular) network to the user's software app on her phoneor tablet (remote control 30). Additionally, detected motion may alsoactivate the camera 16 to either 1) immediately take a still photo, 2)take a series of still photos, 3) take a short video, and/or 4) simplyallow the user, upon receiving the alert, to view footage from thecamera 16 in real time. In one embodiment, the sensor unit may include amicrophone, so that sound may be transmitted and/or recorded along withvideo.

Additionally, the sensor units 10 may be programmed by the user toactivate any or all of the smart outlets 12 of the sensor unit 10 (orother sensor units 10) to remotely switch on, which will switch thelights on in the room where motion was detected. The sensor unit 10 mayinclude an audible alarm 20, as well, which may be triggered upondetecting motion. Alternatively, a separate audible alarm may bewirelessly incorporated into the system.

The system may also include a “Home” mode. In “Home” mode, the doorsensors 26, window sensors 28, panic button 34, and other securityfeatures are active, while the motion sensors 18 are not. In this way,people can move about the building while the system is in the Home modewithout setting off the alarm, but door sensors 26, window sensors 28,panic button 34 and other features of the system are still active.

Other security components may be incorporated into the system, as well.For example, a laser sensor may be employed in several different ways todetect intruders. The laser sensor may include a laser or infraredtransmitter, and a laser or infrared detector. Essentially, the laseremits a concentrated light source that puts out a straight line beam oflight in a single color. The laser detector is sensitive to light, andis connected to sensing electronics. When the laser beam is interrupted,and cannot reach the detector, then the sensing electronics may emit awireless warning signal to the base unit, which can then relay the alertto the user's smart phone or remote control 30 via the internetconnection. The laser sensor may be placed across a doorway, so that ifthe door is opened, the laser beam is broken, and an alert is generated.The laser sensor may also be placed in any other desired location, suchas a hallway, so that anyone walking or crawling along the hallway wouldnecessarily have to break the beam, thereby triggering the alarm.

Another component that may be used is a magnetic door monitor 26. Themagnetic door monitor typically contains two components, one of which isfixed to the door frame, and the other which is fixed to the door. Thecomponents are arranged so that when the door is closed, the componentsare physically positioned adjacent to one another, and a magneticconnection is formed. When the door is opened, the magnetic connectionis broken, and the magnetic door monitor 26 senses the brokenconnection, thereby generating an alarm, which is wirelessly transmittedto the base unit 22 and relayed to the user via the remote control 30.Of course, any type of door sensor or monitor 26 may be used, so long asit can be battery operated, sense the opening and closing of a door, andwirelessly transmit that information to the base unit 22. There are manytypes of door monitors 26 that may be suitable. Similar types of windowmonitors or sensors 28 may be used on windows, as well, to trigger analarm if the window is opened.

It is contemplated that the system may be monitored by a securitycompany or any other security entity that is designated by the user. Insuch a case, any alert that is generated by the system may besimultaneously sent to the user, multiple users, the security company,or any combination thereof. Alternatively, the system may be set up sothat a user or multiple users are alerted by the system first, and thenthe user may elect to alert the security company after doing apreliminary investigation, in order to reduce or eliminate potentialfalse alarms.

If the system is monitored by a security company, another component maybe used. A wireless panic button 34 may be placed in any desiredlocation, so that a user may alert the security company in the event ofan intruder (or any other emergency) while the user is inside the house.The panic button 34 simply includes a transmitter that is capable oftransmitting an alert signal to the base unit 22, which then relays thesignal via the internet (through the wireless internet network, or thecellular data network) to the monitoring company, or any other desiredrecipient. In a preferred embodiment, the panic button 34 is batteryoperated, and may be attached to any wall or surface using adhesive,screws, or any other suitable attachment means. The system may beprogrammed to trigger other events when the panic button 34 is pressed,such as switching on desired lights that are plugged into the sensorunits 10 and/or base unit 22, and may activate any or all of the sensorunit 10 and/or base unit 22 cameras 16 to begin recording footage, whichcan then be saved and sent to the user or the security company.

It is also contemplated that any data collected from the system,including camera footage, alerts generated, or other data, may betransmitted by the base unit 22 to a remote server 36 (the “cloud”) viathe wireless network or cellular data network. All recorded events mayinclude a time and date stamp, as well as the location (or specificsensor unit 10) that triggered the recorded event. In this way, a useror law enforcement personnel may be able to access the recorded data forinvestigation purposes. It is further contemplated that a user mayaccess this recorded information by using the software app on a smartphone or tablet.

In an embodiment that incorporates voice recognition software, the baseunit and the sensor units may include a microphone, for receiving oralcommands. In use, a user may simply issue verbal commands, such as“Security-Arm-Home” in any room where a microphone is present andconnected to the system, and the base unit executes that command. If theuser is in a room where a sensor unit is located (but not where the baseunit is located), then the sensor receives the verbal command andtransmits it to the base unit for execution. Similarly, in the event ofa medical emergency or home intrusion, the user may simply say“Help-911,” for instance, in any room where a sensor or base includes amicrophone, and the system can perform any of a variety of tasks,including sending an alert to a monitoring company or law enforcement,activating any or all selected smart outlets to switch on lights,activate any or all cameras and/or microphones to transmit and recordaudio-visual data, activate an audio alarm, or perform any other desiredfunction that the system is programmed to perform, as desired by theuser. This arrangement allows a user to call for help without having tophysically press a button on a touchscreen, a numeric pad, a fob, orremote control.

It is also contemplated that a user can program the system to understandany desired or selected verbal command for a silent alarm to alertauthorities of a home invasion or criminal activity, without alertingthe perpetrator that the alarm has been activated or a security alertsent out. For instance, the system could be programmed to silently alertauthorities with a command or word (like “Omaha”) that would not raisesuspicions of a criminal perpetrating the home invasion.

Home Systems Monitoring

Another aspect of the present system is the ability to monitor varioussystems in the home, in order to make sure that all systems are workingproperly, whether the user is at home or away. Users could be advised ifthe power has gone out, if there is a water leak, or if the wirelessnetwork for the internet has become temporarily disabled. In a preferredembodiment, each component of the system (base unit 22, sensor units 10,etc.) are either solely battery powered, or include a battery backup incase the power is shut off. Preferably, battery backup systems includerechargeable batteries, so that in the event of a power outage, thebatteries are used to power the system, but may then be recharged whenpower is restored. Further, it is contemplated that each componentinclude a power monitor, which can generate an alert to the user via theremote control 30 when the battery reaches a certain point (10% powerremaining, for instance). This information, in a preferred embodiment,may also be monitored at will by a user by utilizing the software app.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, the base unit 22 may include meansfor connecting to the internet through a standard wireless (wifi)network from a standard wireless router, and may also include thecapability to access the internet using a cellular data network, similarto smart phones and tablets commonly found today. In this way, if thewireless router or wifi network experiences problems or an outage, thesystem may then use the cellular data network to continue sending alertsand receiving user instructions. Indeed, if a power outage occurs, or aninternet outage occurs, the system may still be capable of sending“Power Outage” or “Internet Connection Failure” alerts to the user viathe remote control 30, who can then take appropriate action.

The sensor units 10 may have an array of sensors for monitoring thegeneral operation of the home, particularly if the user is away onvacation, or if the property is a vacation home and is often unoccupied,and the system can be configured to send an alert to the user if any ofthe sensors detect data that is outside of acceptable parameters. In oneembodiment, for instance, a temperature sensor monitors the ambienttemperature, and if the temperature drops below 40° Fahrenheit duringthe winter in a cold climate, then an alert is generated and sent to theuser, so that the user may take action to prevent pipes from freezing.Other sensors may include moisture or standing water sensors or waterflow sensors, which send out an alert if a pipe is broken or leaking,gas detection devices to detect if natural gas or propane is leaking,smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, or any other type ofmonitors that are capable of sending a wireless signal to the base unit22. Similarly to some of the security components listed above, thesehome system monitoring components may either be battery operated, or mayhave a battery backup, but preferably will still operate, at leasttemporarily, in the event of a power outage. Most, if not all, of thesensors, monitors or detectors are commonly available on the markettoday, and it is noted that one skilled in the art would be capable ofproviding wireless communication to these monitors in order toincorporate the monitors into the present monitoring system.Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the system is programmable by auser, so that the monitored parameters may be set by the user. Moreover,a user may select components a la carte to be used in their personalsystem, may program various responses to triggered alerts, and mayprogram the parameters that determine when and under what circumstancesan alert is sent.

Personnel Monitoring

In one preferred embodiment, the system may be used to monitor thehealth and activity of a person, particularly if the person is elderly,infirm, or at risk due to a medical condition. Although it is possibleto conduct some limited monitoring using the base unit 22 and sensorunits 10 described above, specifically by using the motion sensors 18 todetect a person's movement about the house or apartment, in a preferredembodiment, the system includes a wearable device 38 that tracks thewearer's activities and communicates data to the base unit 22.

It is becoming increasingly common for people to use wearable devices 38to monitor certain vital signs and track physical activity on a dailybasis. Devices such as Apple Watches, Fit-Bits, Jawbones and GarminVivofits are examples of such wearable exercise trackers, and many ofthese wearable devices 38 are configured to wirelessly communicate withother devices, such as smart phones, tablets or computers. Typically,these wearable devices 38 measure vital signs of the wearer, includingheart rate, blood pressure, and the like, and they further track andrecord physical activity, such as the number of steps taken or flightsof stairs climbed in a day (or specified time period).

In the present system, a wearable device 38 is configured to communicatewith the base unit 22, and the results or data may be sent to anotherperson or entity, such as a family member, medical professional,monitoring service, or caregiver via smart phone, tablet, computer, orother internet connected device. Additionally, the system may beprogrammed with certain parameters, so that if any of the data trackedand communicated by the wearable device 38 falls outside the acceptableparameters, then the system generates an alert that is sent to a desiredrecipient (again, a family member, doctor, or caregiver, for instance).As an example, if the wearer's heart rate is higher or lower thanacceptable parameters as detected by the wearable device 38, then thesystem sends an alert to the designated recipient, who can then takeappropriate action to check on the health and well-being of the wearer.Other parameters may be set, as well, including number of steps taken orsimply motion in general, in order to make sure that the wearer is atleast moving about. These parameters may be set by using the remotecontrol device 30 and/or a touchscreen 32.

In one embodiment, the system may be configured to use a person's phoneor tablet, rather than (or along with) the wearable device 38, tomonitor physical activity of a person. Because most smart phones includeaccelerometers and other sensors for detecting motion and physicalactivity, this information may be communicated to the base unit 22, inorder to make sure that the monitored person is in an active state. Inthis embodiment, the software app may simply access the physicalactivity data that is already being collected by the phone, and mayrelay that information to the base unit 22. As long as the physicalactivity data being transmitted to the base 22 unit is within acceptableparameters, then no alert is sent. However, if there is no physicalactivity detected for a predetermined or programmed amount of time,either from the smart phone, tablet, or a wearable device 38, then analert is generated by the system and sent to a designated recipient.

If an alert is received by a designated recipient, then that recipientmay use the remote control 30 to access the cameras 16 throughout thehome (on the base unit 22 and/or sensor units 10), for instance, in anattempt to visually locate the wearer, in order to get some preliminaryinformation and assess the situation. The recipient may also attempt tocall the wearer on the telephone, or may take whatever action they deemnecessary to check on or assist the wearer.

As mentioned previously, in an embodiment where the system includesvoice recognition software, and can receive and execute verbal commands,a user in distress may simply say “Help-911,” for instance, if theycannot get to a telephone or remote control for the system, and thesystem sends out an alert to a remote monitoring company, lawenforcement, or any desired recipient.

Smart Home System

Another aspect of the present invention is the ability to automate andcontrol various appliances and systems through the use of the wirelessremote control 30, which may be a dedicated unit, similar to the remotecontrol of a television or entertainment system, or more preferably, isa smart phone, tablet, computer or the like with a software appdeveloped specifically for this purpose. In one preferred embodiment,the remote control 30 not only receives alerts and messages based on thesecurity and monitoring functions of the system, but can also be used toaccess the cameras 16 in the base unit 22 and sensor units 10, so thatthe user can see on the screen of the remote control 30 whatever theselected camera 16 can see in real time, on demand. In this way, theuser can activate the app on her smart phone (remote control 30), selectany of the cameras 16 that are incorporated into the system, andactivate that camera 16 so that images from that camera 16 are displayedon the remote control 30 screen.

Secondly, the user may remotely select, by using the remote control 30,any of the smart outlets 12 housed in the base unit 22 or the sensorunits 12, and switch those smart outlets on or off. Thus, anything thatis plugged into a specific smart outlet 12, such as a light, television,coffee maker, or any other electrical device, may be switched on or off.The system may also include a dimming capability for lights, so that auser may be able to not only switch a particular light on or off, butmay also dim the light to any desired level remotely.

The remote control 30 of the base unit 22 and sensor unit 10 smartoutlets 12 may be particularly advantageous in vacation homes or rentalproperties, where the user could plug a refrigerator, for instance, intoone of the sensor units 10, and switch the refrigerator off while theproperty remains unoccupied, but may switch it on at any time before orduring a time when the rental property is to be occupied.

It is also contemplated that the remote control 30 may be used to settimers on each individual smart outlet 12 of the base unit 22 and sensorunits 10, so that the user can program specific lights to switch on atsome desired time, and then switch off at some later time, in order tomake an unoccupied property appear to be occupied. The times may beprogrammed by the user to change on different days, or may be simplycontrolled manually via the remote control 30. For instance, if a userwishes to access a camera 16 in a specific room, the user may alsoswitch on one or more lights in that room via control of the smartoutlets 12 in order to better view the room with the camera 16. It iscontemplated that the remote control unit 30 or app may indicate whichspecific smart outlets 12 are currently in the “on” position, and whichones are currently in the “off” position.

Another aspect of the smart house programming is a “Good Night” feature,which can be programmed as a macro function. The Good Night featureallows a user to program a specific set of smart outlets 12 to switchoff with the press of a single button on the app, and may simultaneouslyactivate the security features in “Home” mode. In this way, once thesystem is properly programmed, when a user climbs into bed at night, shemay select the Good Night button on the remote control 30, and all ofthe programmed smart outlets switch off, while the security features areactivated. These programmed smart outlets 12 may control lightsthroughout the house, televisions, stereos, or any other appliance thatwould normally be shut down during overnight hours.

The smart house function of the system may be divided into a Landlordfunction and a Tenant function, where a Landlord has full access to theentire system (including cameras 16) so long as a tenant is notoccupying a building, but has only limited access when a tenant isoccupying a building (no camera 16 access, for example). The tenant mayuse the Tenant function of the app on the remote control 30, whichallows the tenant to use the security and smart house features duringthe tenancy, but the Tenant function expires at the end of the tenancy,so that the tenant no longer has any access to or control over thesystem.

The smart house functionality of the system is programmable in otherways, as well. For instance, a user may plug lights into a sensor unit10, and program the sensor unit 10 smart outlets 12 to switch on thelights whenever motion is detected in the room by the motion sensor 18.In this way, when any person enters a room, the lights automaticallyswitch on without the user having to find a light switch. The lights canbe programmed via remote control 30 to stay on for a specified amount oftime, or may be programmed to stay on only until some time period afterno further motion is detected.

In one embodiment, the software app on the remote control 30 allows eachsensor unit 10 to be specifically named or identified by the user (Den,Master Bedroom, Guest Bedroom, or any desired name), and each specificsmart outlet 12 to be named or identified, as well (Den—outlet 1, orDen—outlet 2, etc.), or the smart outlets 12 may be identified by theappliance that is plugged into that smart outlet 12 (Den—floor lamp, orKitchen—coffee maker). In this way, a user can easily identify theappliance or outlet that she wishes to program or control on thesoftware app of the remote control 30.

In another aspect of the present invention, the base unit may includesoftware and hardware (including a microphone and speaker), which allowsthe base unit to receive and act on oral commands, in similar fashion tothe commercially available Amazon Echo (U.S. Pat. No. 9,324,322,incorporated herein by reference). In this embodiment, a user may issueoral commands to control the overall system, including arming anddisarming the security modes, as well as operating the smart outlets,either individually, in groups, or all of the smart outlets operativelyconnected to the system. The base unit can be trained to recognizevoices of specific users, so that it only responds to those users'voices. Additionally, in this embodiment, microphones may be included ineach of the sensor units, which can detect the user's voice in any roomwhere a sensor unit is located, and the sensor unit then transmits theoral command to the base unit, possibly in another room, for execution.In this way, a user may issue voice commands for the system throughoutthe house or building, so long as a sensor unit is in close enoughproximity to detect the user's voice commands. Optionally, a speaker maybe included in the base unit, and the base unit may be used to verballyacknowledge a voice command, so that a user knows the verbal command wasproperly received and executed. Voice commands may be used to operatethe system in the same way that the remote control device operates thesystem. In other words, anything that a user can do with a remotecontrol device, the user may do with voice commands. It is alsocontemplated that the remote control may be configured to receive oralcommands, as well, similar to the Siri system of Apple Computer. In thisway, a user may simply open an app on their smart phone, tablet, orother device used to remotely control the system, and then issue oralcommands that are recognized and transmitted to the base unit forexecution.

In one embodiment, the base unit may be configured to communicate withand issue commands to other home appliances or systems that are capableof receiving wireless transmissions and commands. For instance, if auser has a smart thermostat that may receive wireless instructions froma remote control device, the base unit may be configured to communicatewith the smart thermostat, so that the thermostat may be operatedremotely via the base unit.

System Programming by User

In one embodiment, various aspects of the system can be programmed bythe user, preferably using the software app on the user's remote control30, or on the keypad or touchscreen 32. Additionally, in an embodimentthat recognizes voice commands, such oral commands may be programmedinto the base unit, as well. It is contemplated that the base unit ispre-programmed with certain basic commands, but additional voicecommands to operate specific smart outlets, for example, may beprogrammed by a user. Further, the base unit may be trained to recognizethe specific voice of a user or users, so that only designated users mayissue verbal commands to the system. Alternatively, as a securitymeasure, an oral password may be used to issue verbal commands, so thatonly a person knowing the password may issue verbal commands.

Timers

First, a user may select any of the smart outlets 12 that areincorporated into the system, and set a timer for that smart outlet 12to switch on or off. Different times may be set for different days.Further, a user may select a series of individual smart outlets 12 to beswitched on or off by the same timer. The timer may be changed ormodified at any time by the user, as with all other programmablefeatures.

Security Sensors

The system may also be programmed, in a preferred embodiment, to reactto security sensors as desired by the user. For example, in response tomotion being detected, a user may program a smart outlet 12 or a seriesof smart outlets 12 to switch to the on position, in order to cut onlights that are plugged into those specific smart outlets 12. The usermay also program the type of alert that she wishes to receive, whetherit is through the software app, via text message, email message, audioalarm from the base unit 22 and/or sensor units 10, some combinationthereof, or in any desired way. The user can program the sensor unit 10,upon alert from a motion sensor 18, to activate the camera 16 to take apicture, a series of pictures, video, or simply to activate the camera16 to show real-time footage to remote control device 30. The user canchoose to have the pictures and/or video recorded and saved on a remoteserver 36, or on the remote control device 30, or both.

In an embodiment wherein the base unit recognizes and executes verbalcommands, the system can be programmed to specifically receive andexecute specific commands, as desired by the user. For instance,particularly in the embodiment where the sensor units include amicrophone, if a user is in distress or in an emergency situation, theuser can program the system to respond to the voice command “Help” by 1)turning on all lights that are plugged into smart outlets, 2) triggerthe alarm (which may include an audible alarm), 3) cause all cameras toactivate on all sensors and begin recording video/audio, and 4) transmita distress signal, possibly including such live or recorded video/audiofeeds, to a monitoring service or authorities.

Macro Functions

Another feature of the present system is the ability for a user toprogram a series of actions based on a single command (or the press of asingle button or icon on the remote control device 30). For example, auser may program the system to go into “Goodnight” mode by selecting aplurality of individual smart outlets 12, and causing those chosen smartoutlets 12 to switch off, along with activating the security features inthe “Home” mode by pressing a “Goodnight” mode icon. Similarly, a “GoodMorning” mode can be programmed to switch those same smart outlets 12back on and deactivate the security features. In this way, a user canclimb into bed at night, click on the Goodnight mode icon on the remotecontrol, and various lights, televisions, or any other selectedappliances may be shut down for the evening, while the security featuresbecome activated. Then, in the morning, a user may click on the GoodMorning icon, and those appliances switch back to the “on” position, andthe security features become deactivated.

Similarly, a user may program the system so that a single icon or buttonon the remote control 30 switches on all (or a selected number) of thesmart outlets 12 in a particular room. For instance, a user may select anumber of smart outlets 12 in the user's Den, and program an icon thatthe user may name “Den” to switch all of the smart outlets 12 (orselected smart outlets 12) on or off at one time. In this way, if a userwishes to enter the Den at night, she can simply click the “Den” icon,and have all of the lights in the Den switch to the “on” position.Optionally, all commands may be received verbally from the user andexecuted by the system, as well, in one embodiment.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions arepossible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims shouldnot be limited to the description of the preferred versions containedherein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced byalternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose,unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly statedotherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a genericseries of equivalent or similar features.

What I claim is:
 1. A portable wireless remote monitoring system, saidsystem comprising: a base unit including a microphone, said base unitbeing capable of receiving and executing oral commands from a user viasaid microphone; at least one sensor unit, wherein said sensor unit andsaid base unit include means for two-way communications, so that saidbase unit and said sensor unit may wirelessly communicate with oneanother; said sensor unit including a remotely controllable motionsensor, a remotely controllable camera, and at least one remotelycontrollable electrical outlet, each operationally connected to oneanother; and a remote control including means for two-way wirelesscommunication with said base unit; wherein said motion sensor, upondetecting motion, is configured to activate said camera to record adigital image, and wherein said sensor unit wirelessly transmits saiddigital image to said base unit, which then wirelessly transmits saiddigital image to a user's remote control, a monitoring service, or tolaw enforcement authorities; and wherein said base unit is configured toreceive voice commands to control said electrical outlet and to transmitan emergency distress signal to a monitoring service or to lawenforcement authorities.
 2. The portable wireless remote monitoringsystem set forth in claim 1, wherein said remote control is configuredto wirelessly operate said remotely controllable electrical outletbetween an on and off position, and wherein said remote control isfurther configured to activate and deactivate said motion sensor andsaid camera.
 3. The portable wireless remote monitoring system set forthin claim 1, wherein said remote control is configured to receive andsimultaneously display real time streaming video imagery generated bysaid camera on command by a user.
 4. The portable wireless remotemonitoring system set forth in claim 1, wherein said base unit includesmeans for providing a data connection to a global computer network, andwherein communication between said base unit and said remote controloccurs via said global computer network.
 5. The portable wireless remotemonitoring system set forth in claim 4, further including a remotecomputer server connected to said global computer network; wherein saidbase unit and said remote control unit are operationally connected tosaid remote computer server; and wherein said base unit is configured towirelessly transmit said video image and said security alert to saidremote computer server for recording, storage, and later access andretrieval.
 6. The portable wireless remote monitoring system set forthin claim 1, wherein said sensor unit further includes a microphone fordetecting and recording sound.
 7. The portable wireless remotemonitoring system set forth in claim 6, wherein said sensor unit isconfigured to wirelessly transmit oral commands to said base unit forexecution by said base unit.
 8. The portable wireless remote monitoringsystem set forth in claim 6, wherein said microphone may be accessed atwill simultaneously with said camera via said remote control, so that auser may view video footage and hear corresponding sound detected bysaid microphone in real time on command by said user.
 9. The portablewireless remote monitoring system set forth in claim 1, furtherincluding at least one door monitor for monitoring whether a door is inan open or closed position; said door monitor having a wirelesstransmitter that communicates with said base unit, so that when a dooris in an open position, said transmitter wirelessly transmits an alertto said base unit, and said base unit then wirelessly transmits an alertto said remote control.
 10. The portable wireless remote monitoringsystem set forth in claim 1, wherein said system further includes amonitoring device selected from the group consisting of a temperaturesensor, a humidity sensor, a smoke detector, a toxic gas detector, astanding water monitor, a water flow monitor, and any combinationthereof; said monitoring device including a wireless transmitter thatcommunicates with said base unit, so that when said monitor detects aprogrammed condition, said transmitter wirelessly transmits an alertthat identifies said programmed condition to said base unit, and saidbase unit then wirelessly transmits said alert to said remote control.11. The portable wireless remote monitoring system set forth in claim 1,wherein said base unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with andremotely control home appliances having wireless communicationcapabilities, said home appliances selected from the group consisting ofthermostats, refrigerators, home entertainment systems, televisions,speakers and lights, so that said home appliances may be operated by auser by said remote control or by issuing voice commands that arereceived by said base unit and transmitted to said selected homeappliance.
 12. The portable wireless remote monitoring system set forthin claim 1, wherein said system further includes a wearable monitoringdevice; said wearable monitoring device including at least one sensorselected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a bloodpressure sensor, an accelerometer, a heart rate sensor, and anycombination thereof; said wearable monitoring device being powered by arechargeable battery and including a wireless transmitter to communicatewith said base unit so that when said wearable monitoring device detectsa programmed condition, said transmitter wirelessly transmits an alertthat identifies said programmed condition to said base unit, and saidbase unit then wirelessly transmits said alert to said remote control.13. The portable wireless remote monitoring system set forth in claim 1,wherein said sensor unit includes a plurality of remotely controllableelectrical outlets; wherein said remotely controllable electricaloutlets may be controlled individually, together, or in any combination,either by said remote control or by oral commands received by said baseunit; and wherein said remote control is configured to allow a user toprogram said system to switch on or off said remotely controllableelectrical outlets by using a timer to turn on said outlets at aspecific time and to turn off said outlets at a specific time, eitherindividually, together, or in any combination; and wherein said remotecontrol is configured to allow a user to program said system to switchon or off said remotely controllable outlets in response to detection ofmotion by said motion detector, either individually, together, or in anycombination.
 14. The portable wireless remote monitoring system setforth in claim 4, wherein said means for providing a data connection toa global computer network includes at least two separate connections;wherein one of said connections to said global computer network is via awifi network connection, and wherein another of said connections to saidglobal computer network is through a cellular data internet connection,independently of said wifi network connection, so that if eitherconnection fails or becomes disrupted, said system can use the otherconnection to said global computer network to send an alarm to saiduser, alerting said user that one of said connections to said globalcomputer network is not functional.
 15. The portable wireless remotemonitoring system set forth in claim 1, wherein said system furtherincludes a remote touchscreen unit that is configured to operate saidsystem; wherein said touchscreen unit includes means for wirelesslycommunicating with said base unit, so that a user may input commands andinstructions into said touchscreen unit, and said touchscreen unitrelays said input commands and instructions to said base unit to becarried out; and wherein said touchscreen unit is configured to receivealerts and other data from said base unit, and to display said alertsand other data thereon.
 16. The portable wireless remote monitoringsystem set forth in claim 15, wherein said touchscreen unit furtherincludes a camera, a microphone, and a speaker, so that a user may usesaid touchscreen unit to communicate in real time with another user whois using a remote control unit, and wherein said real timecommunications include both streaming audio and video signals.
 17. Theportable wireless remote monitoring system set forth in claim 1, furtherincluding a remote computer server that is in wireless communicationwith said base unit; wherein said remote computer server receives andrecords data sent from said base unit in response to any alertsgenerated by said base units; and wherein said remote computer serverreceives and records data generated by said base unit in response toinstructions sent to said base unit by said remote control or by verbalcommand.
 18. The portable wireless remote monitoring system set forth inclaim 1, wherein said base unit includes an audio speaker that isactivated upon detection of motion by said motion sensor to emit anaudible alarm.
 19. The portable wireless remote monitoring system setforth in claim 1, further including a plurality of sensor units; whereinsaid remote control is configured to display an icon representing eachsaid sensor unit said remotely controlled electrical outlet, and whereinsaid remote control is configured so that a user may program a name oridentifier for each sensor unit and each remotely controlled electricaloutlet, and wherein said name or identifier is displayed on said remotecontrol.
 20. The portable wireless remote monitoring system set forth inclaim 1, wherein said base unit is configured to be programmed torecognize a specific user's voice, and is further configured to onlyaccept oral commands from a recognized user, so that said base memberwill not execute oral commands from unrecognized and unauthorizedpeople.
 21. A portable remote monitoring system, said system comprising:a base unit including a microphone, said base unit being capable ofreceiving and executing oral commands from a user via said microphone; asensor array, wherein each sensor included in said sensor array and saidbase unit include means for two-way communications, so that said baseunit and said sensors may wirelessly communicate with one another; saidsensor array including a remotely controllable motion sensor, a remotelycontrollable camera, and at least one remotely controllable electricaloutlet, each operationally connected to said base unit; and a remotecontrol including means for two-way wireless communication with saidbase unit; wherein said motion sensor, upon detecting motion, isconfigured to activate said camera to record a digital image, andwherein said camera wirelessly transmits said digital image to said baseunit, which then wirelessly transmits said digital image to a user'sremote control, a monitoring service, or to law enforcement authorities;and wherein said base unit is configured to receive voice commands tocontrol said electrical outlet and to transmit an emergency distresssignal to a monitoring service or to law enforcement authorities. 22.The portable remote monitoring system set forth in claim 21, whereinsaid sensor array includes at least one microphone, which transmits oralcommands to said base unit.
 23. The portable remote monitoring systemset forth in claim 21, wherein said sensor array includes at least onesystem monitor selected from the group consisting of a temperaturesensor, a humidity sensor, an electrical usage sensor, a standing watersensor and a laser sensor.
 24. The portable remote monitoring system setforth in claim 21, wherein said base unit is programmable by a user toaccept specific oral commands to control said remotely controllableelectrical outlets, either individually, as a user selected group, orall remotely controllable electrical outlets.
 25. The portable remotemonitoring system set forth in claim 21, wherein said base unit isprogrammable by a user to accept specific oral commands to send securityalerts to a monitoring service, another party, or to law enforcementauthorities.
 26. The portable remote monitoring system set forth inclaim 21, wherein said base unit is programmable by a user to recognizeone or more specific individual user voices, so that said base unit mayonly accept verbal commands from authorized users.
 27. The portableremote monitoring system set forth in claim 21, wherein said base unitis programmable by a user to require and recognize specific passwords inorder to execute verbal commands.